SBHC Funding Opportunity: Youth-Led Projects Grant Applications Due October 24th
The SBHC State Program Office (SPO) is excited to share that we are now accepting applications for the
SBHC Mental Health Expansion Grant (MHEG): Youth-Led Projects Grant. SBHC Youth-Led Project grants support activities to reduce mental health stigma and promote SBHC access. The 2025 – 2027 OHA Agency Budget allocated an additional $500,000 for the Youth-Led Project Grant in alignment with Governor Kotek's priorities for improving Oregon's behavioral health system.
Please review the attached PDF 2025 Youth-Led Projects Grant Application Memo for all relevant details regarding the Youth-Led Projects Grant and the application process.
Quick Details:
- Youth-Led Projects Grant Overview (including list of current grantees) can be found here.
- Youth-Led Projects Grant Requirements can be found here.
- Applications are due by Friday October 24th at 5 PM.
- Application content and scoring details included in attached memo.
- Maximum award for an individual SBHC is $90,000 and for a SBHC system (defined in memo) is $137,000.
- Current grantees may apply for additional funding if eligible based on current award amount.
- Grant awards will run through June 30, 2027, with a possibility of extending beyond that date, depending on the OHA legislatively determined budget.
- There will be two Q&A sessions for anyone with questions about this grant opportunity (registration required):
Please reach out to Mikah Rotman, School Mental Health Specialist with any comments or questions (Mikah.Rotman@oha.oregon.gov).
SBHC Rulemaking Information
The SBHC State Program Office (SPO) is proposing to permanently adopt, amend, and repeal Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) in chapter 333, division 28 pertaining to the School-Based Health Center (SBHC) certification process and requirements. This is a formal step to adopt the changes developed during the SBHC Standards for Certification Review process outlined below.
The SPO will be convening a virtual SBHC Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting to consider the proposed administrative rules relating to the SBHC Standards for Certification, Version 5. The RAC will be held on Monday, November 17th, 2025, from 10:00am-11:30am PST. Key SBHC partners have been invited to participate in the RAC. Members of the public are invited to observe the meeting. Please contact the SBHC Program at SBHC.Program@odhsoha.oregon.gov for more information.
For more information, please reference following documents, that will be reviewed during the SBHC Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting:
A public comment period will be held in Spring 2025.
SBHC Standards for Certification Review
The SBHC State Program Office (SPO) has been working over the past several years to “modernize” the SBHC Standards for Certification to (1) identify and address any areas in need of clarification; (2) update sections to align with current best practice: and (3) continue to adapt the Standards to center health equity and youth engagement. This multiyear revision process has involved many steps, including extensive background research, surveys, internal (OHA) and external partner engagement, and youth listening sessions.
The SPO is now working to formally change Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) to adopt the SBHC Standards for Certification, Version 5 created through the Review Process outlined below.
SBHC
Standards for Certification Review Process
In October 2023, the SPO convened an SBHC Standards for Certification Workgroup comprised of SBHC representatives from across the state. The workgroup met nine times to review SPO’s proposed changes to the Standards and provide feedback.
The SPO then asked for feedback from all state certified SBHCs in Spring 2024 on a draft version of the new Standards. SPO integrated this feedback in Summer 2024 to produce the following documents. The first document contains edits to the 2016 Standards, with all edits indicated in track changes. The second document shows the final,* updated Standards, Version 5.
Standards for Certification EDITS with Changes
Standards for Certification, Version 5 - Clean
All Oregon State certified SBHCs will be required to meet the minimum standards outlined in the SBHC Standards for Certification, Version 5 beginning July 1, 2026. SPO will support SBHCs to come into compliance with the new requirements.
The SPO has also put together a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to address some common questions about the new requirements. You can access the document here:
The SBHC SPO is incredibly grateful to everyone who leant their time and expertise to this review process. Every step of the revisions was made better by the expertise of so many people who are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of Oregon’s youth, particularly young people themselves!
Background
The first School-Based Health Center Standards for Certification were developed in 2000 by the SPO, Oregon School-Based Health Alliance (OSBHA), and SBHC partners. These Standards have been updated a number of times over the past 15 years, most recently in 2015-2016. For more information, please view the 2016 Oregon SBHC Standards for Certification.
For more information about the Oregon SBHC Standards for Certification revisions, please contact the SBHC SPO: SBHC.Program@ODHSOHA.Oregon.Gov.
* Final pending formal Oregon Administrative Rules process.